57: How They Started A Farm At Age 50! The Inspiring Story of Harmony Farm | Greg & Kate Stainton

In this episode, we sit down with Greg and Kate from Harmony Farm in Brockville, Ontario, to explore their journey of starting a multi-enterprise farm in their 50’s! They discuss how a desire for purpose and environmental responsibility led them to transition from their previous careers into managing market gardens, livestock, and maple syrup production on a 250-acre property. Kate, a psychiatrist, shares her insights on lifestyle and culinary medicine, emphasizing how ultra-processed foods drive chronic inflammation and why farmers play a vital role in public health. The group also dives into practical strategies for farm viability, including selling wood-fired pizzas at local markets and partnering with community programs to provide work opportunities. Finally, they examine the value of strong local networks, continuous learning, and how simple choices like real food can create rapid, meaningful change. 

Timestamps 

[0:00] Intro

[05:00] Defining the role of farmers in the public health care system

[10:45] The transition from city life to buying Harmony Farm in Brockville

[16:15] Examining ultra-processed foods, inflammation, and culinary medicine

[20:20] Partnering with "Heart Hubs" and prisons for community farming programs

[25:45] The true environmental and health costs of conventional food

[29:00] Finding purpose and starting a full-scale farm at age 50

[37:00] Exploring the six pillars of lifestyle medicine and nutrition

[1:03:00] Rethinking public support: Farms operated like community hospitals

[1:22:00] Turning extra garden produce into value-added wood-fired market pizzas

[1:28:00] Essential resources: Masterclass, Heirloom software, and community support

[1:45:20] Rapid fire Q&A on books, advice, and life lessons

Sponsors

Dubois Agrinovation: 

Get 10% off by choosing the promo code ‘MasterClass – Jean-Martin Fortier’ when you create an account. Some exceptions apply. 

https://duboisag.com/

Links/Resources

Start Your Market Gardener Journey Here : https://themarketgardener.com/starthere/

Market Gardener Institute:  https://themarketgardener.com 

Masterclass:  https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass 

Newsletter:  https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter

Blog:  https://themarketgardener.com/blog 

Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books

Growers & Co: https://growers.co

Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/

The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/

Follow Us

Website: http://themarketgardener.com 

Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners 

Guest Social Media Links

Harmony Farm:

Website: https://harmonyfarms.ca/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmony_farming 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harmonyfarming/ 

JM:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier